Citizen Science for Cities

Liu Bauer, a DataScience Ph.D., shares her experience of using Aino for citizen science projects.

What is citizen science?

Citizen science refers to the involvement of the general public, often non-professional scientists or volunteers, in scientific research and data collection. It is a collaborative approach that enables everyday individuals to contribute to scientific projects and investigations. Citizen science projects can cover various disciplines, including biology, astronomy, environmental science, and more.

Participants in citizen science initiatives can contribute in various ways, such as collecting and recording data, making observations, conducting experiments, or analyzing data. They work alongside professional scientists who provide guidance and oversight. The collective efforts of citizen scientists contribute to large-scale data collection, enabling researchers to gather information that would otherwise be challenging or time-consuming to obtain.

Citizen science offers several benefits. It allows for greater data collection and analysis capacity, as large numbers of volunteers can cover extensive geographic areas. It also promotes public engagement with science, raising awareness about scientific issues, and fostering a sense of ownership and empowerment among participants. Additionally, citizen science projects often provide opportunities for education, skill development, and collaboration between scientists and the public.

Collaborative mapping

For several decades, citizens have been participating in mapping challenges such as OSM, HOT, iNaturalist, and Zooniverse. In our recent work, we explored how participatory geolocation of biodiversity in cities can bring new perspectives to citizens’ contributions to city projects [1].

We collected the data using the open iNaturalist API. This project was part of the Correlaid (Germany) and CorrelaidX (France) data-volunteering project, in collaboration with CRI (France) and UCL (UK).

The main questions we are interested in here are:

• How can we foster collaborative work by the citizen science community across different cities?
• What are the common patterns across the globe, and what drives citizen science communities?

We are also generally interested in the formation and institutionalization of semi-digital formats in citizen science projects: self-organization vs. guided projects, interviews, patterns, and community detection, which we study in our recent publication.

To create and experiment with collaborative tools, we are discussing with Aino.World on the design of tools for analysis and visualization of geolocated activities. This collaboration with Aino.World was interesting and important to us.

The data from the open API of the inaturalist.org platform is in the following format, and some example data is available on our GitHub repository:
https://github.com/correlaid-paris/citizen_science_inaturalist

The distribution of observations in London Hyde Park 2022. For more plots, see our article.

Data Representation

Observation point density in London in 2022.

The actual value of data lies in its ability to be understood and its impact to be made clear. At Aino, we leverage the power of data visualization tools to communicate the results of our analyses effectively.

Through Aino.World, we can create those “A-ha” moments that resonate with our research team and the wider audience. With Aino.World, we can transform complex data into visually appealing graphics and charts directly on a map interface, making it easier to grasp and comprehend.

Aino.World offers a diverse range of data visualization techniques that enable us to tell compelling stories. From simple mapping formats to dynamic 3D simulations, we have the flexibility to present our data in engaging and informative ways.

About aino.world.

Aino is an AI-powered platform for spatial data analysis. It enables experts and communities to collaborate virtually, facilitating data gathering, stakeholder engagement, and shared understanding. With real-time collaboration, data analysis, and a map-based interface, aino.world enhances decision-making and fosters effective communication. It centralizes project organization and offers data-driven insights for sustainable urban spaces.